A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) found that exposure to high levels of light at night can increase death risk by up to 34 percent. Conversely, exposure to high levels of light during the day can reduce death risk by up to 34 percent. The wrong timing and amount of light exposure disrupts circadian rhythms, which leads to heart disease, diabetes, mental health conditions, and obesity, thus increasing the risk of death.
“These new insights into the potential adverse impact of light have shown us just how important personal light exposure patterns are for your health,” senior author and sleep expert professor Sean Cain from Flinders University said in a statement.
